Russia’s Armata Tank Will Have Helicopter Fire Control System

Russia’s Armata tank will be integrated with a helicopter fire control system, according to Sputnik News on Tuesday.

Vladimir Mikheyev, a senior executive at Radioelectronic Technologies Concern (KRET), revealed the company already installed multifunctional indicators to some of the armored vehicles of Russia.

According Milheyev, KRET is offering a range of electronic gear from fire control systems to self-sustained navigation equipment based on inertial navigation systems and multifunctional indicators.

He said the company is developing helicopter weapons control systems. “If we can control helicopter cannons and missiles, we can just as well do this on a tank, said Milheyev.

He explained that a tanker seat currently looks the same as the helicopter pilot seat. Both have similar shock-proof multifunctional indicators and other electronic gear, which “suits the demand of ground combat vehicles.”

Russia plans to replace 70% of its armored vehicles with Armata Tank by 2020

Russia plans to replace 70% of its military tanks by 2020. The Russian government is expected to increase its purchase of new weapons systems for its armored vehicles such as the Armata tank, Bumerang and Kurganets-25 armored personnel carriers, and the Typhoon (Taifun).

Russia is expected to complete the manufacturing tests of the T-14 Armata tank next year, according to Colonel-General Oleg Salyukov, the commander-in-chief of the Russian Ground Forces.

Last month, Salyukov said the Armata tank will undergo manufacturing tests followed by operational trials and entry to service. He added that Russia is on track to upgrade its armored vehicles by 2020.

Russia is planning to produce 2,300 T-14 Armata tanks to replace its older T-72 and T-90 main battle tanks. The cost of one T-14 Armata tank is approximately $8 million.

Russia’s Armata tank is impenetrable, and it can resist all NATO weapons such as rocket launchers and anti-tank missiles with 150 mm caliber. The tank is integrated with an advanced version of explosive reactive armor (ERA).

A source previously told HIS Jane’s, “The new ERA can resist anti-tank gun shells adopted by NATO countries, including the state-of-the-art APFSDS DM53 and DM63 developed by Rheinmetall [and] anti-tank ground missiles with high-explosive anti-tank warheads.”

Russia arms deliveries to Syria intended to fight terrorism

Separately, Russia never concealed that it is supplying Syria with military equipment, which are intended to fight terrorism, according to Maria Zakharova, the spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry.

Zakharova also stated that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry during a telephone conversation that it is premature to discuss the participation of Russia in the military operations of Syria.

Kerry raised his concern that Russia’s military participation if true could escalate the crisis in Syria, and it could lead to greater loss of lives.

Betina Zhoteva, the spokesperson for the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry, confirmed that they denied the request of Russia to allow its military transport planes to cross its territory. She said based on available information, “We have reasonable doubts the cargoes are not the declared one. The Bulgarian Foreign Ministry made that decision on its own accord.”